Chapter 13
Percy POV
"Hurry up Malcolm" (AN: from the Athena cabin) I said running down the hall to the cafeteria. This school year had been amazing, first Malcom had transfered into my school which was amazing. I had a real good laugh at Malcolm's face when he found out I was a whole year ahead of him even though we were the same age. And then there was Emily, easily one of the most beautiful girls I've ever seen, probably tied with Artemis. She had blond hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a stubborn personality. She also happened to be one of my best friends here.
In the beginning Emily actually hated me but we moved on. "What took you two so long" Emily asked. "Malcolm fell asleep in history" I said. "Why do you always bust me man" Malcolm said in embarrassment. "Hey you're the one who fell asleep" I said. "You should really take your education seriously" Emily said in agreement. "Thank you Mom and Dad" Malcolm said sarcastically. Emily slammed her fist onto the table "For the last time we're not together!".
"Admittedly that joke is getting old but I'm finding it hard not to take offence at your reaction" I said. "I just don't want anyone thinking we're together" She said flatly. "Who would" I half shouted "you practically scream the opposite at every opportunity, half the school actually thinks you hate me". "I don't hate you I just don't want to date you" Emily said. "If that's supposed to be comforting you're seriously lacking" I said monotone.
"It's-I'm not-Whatever I can't think of anything that won't just dig me a bigger hole I'm heading to Algebra". "Why are we friends with her again?" I asked. "Because she's nice, incredibly loyal, and absolutely terrifying when angry which she would be if we stopped being her friends." Malcolm responded. "Touche" I said "Well see after school, there's supposed to some kind of party down in central park for summer vacation."
-Time skip 6:30 that Night-
"Are sure this is a good idea" Malcolm asked. "It's cool man we'll just leave if things get bad, besides I think that's the principle over there." I said. "Hey guys" Emily shouted waving a giant bottle "you've got to see this. They've got horses, shooting games, races, animal races, and a dunk station for TEACHERS!"
"Exactly how much sugar have you eaten" I asked. "I'm not sure" Emily slurred "I lost track after nine cinnabuns and about 30 cream sodas". "What's the bottle for?" I asked. Emily looked down at her bottle "What happened to all my candy" she cried "I worked so hard to win it". 'holy Hades that thing is bigger than her head' I thought 'how does all that fit in her stomach'. "How'd you win it" I asked to distract myself from the conundrum that was her stomach. "I knocked over all six bottles from the farthest distance, 80 feet to be exact" Emily said jovially.
"That's actually impressive" Malcolm said. "It really i- um Emily where did you the cotton candy." I said. "I don't know." She said tearing off a piece. "Ok I'm cutting you off for your own good." I said taking the stick. "Give me the COTTON CANDY!" Emily said darkly, I felt profoundly scared.
"Run you idiot" Malcolm shouted I took half a step before Emily jumped on my back. The cotton candy went flying and landed in a barrel of water. I ended up buying Emily another cotton candy and paying for a few games. After that the night went by pretty quickly and before I knew it it was 9:30, Emily had fallen asleep on a bench so I carried her piggyback to her apartment on 57th. It was only ten minutes away and it was totally worth it, in those ten minutes I got some great blackmail. Apparently she still sleeps with her 'teddy', she super glued a guy from math hand to his face, and said 'Thank you big brwther' in a baby voice which made me laugh so hard she woke up right as we reached her door.
"So what was it you wanted to tell me again" I asked. Immediately Malcolm's face turned serious "Annabeth sent me an Iris message last night, apparently someone poisoned Thalia's pine earlier this year, when she dies the border around camp will fail. Zeus is furious and he's blaming Chiron. Mr. D has replaced him with some guy named Tantalus. Annabeth, Clarisse la rue, and Chris Rodriguez were given a quest to find the Golden fleece. Their supposed to leave for the sea of monsters tomorrow."
The two of us parted on 55th where I lived, my mom had left a note on the fridge saying she had to work late and dinner was in the fridge. This tended to happen at least once a month and I didn't really mind today as I was actually out past my curfew.
Though I loved my mom I hated when I got caught getting home late. Naturally she would start off with a reminder of when my curfew is and why. Then she would ask what I was doing, the second she heard the name Emily she'd jump straight to the 'secret girlfriend' option and I was not willing to go through another talk like the one we had on my birth day.
Flashback
Annabeth and my mom had really hit it off, I mean seriously they could pass for an actual mother and daughter. My dad and Triton were losing horribly at monopoly when we decided to stop for dinner "Percy can I talk to you for minute" mom asked. She lead me to the study so I knew it was serious, the study is where we went for all our big talks "What did you want to talk about".
"Your father told me about your little crush on Artemis" she said, I felt my face flush in embarrassment. "So I guess you're here to tell me to stay away from her or something" I said sullenly. "Not quite, I want you to know that it will not be easy to win Artemis' heart." she paused for a second then said "was it just me or did that sound sexist". "No what here's better way of saying it, if you really want earn her heart there's a few things you need to remember. First you need to be yourself, her love will be worth nothing to either of you if she gave it to you thinking you're something you're not. Second remember what your father and I have taught you, never become prideful, in addition to losing yourself to your own pride Artemis would believe you to be just like Orion. Never boast about your own feats and don't run after glory like Hercules did.(AN: I know it's Heracles but I prefer Hercules) Listen to your heart and always do what you feel is right, now why don't go have dinner."
Flashback end
I ate dinner in silence but I couldn't get my mind off what was happening at camp. Mom told to do what I feel is right but that's not the problem. I know what's right but I don't know how to do it, I wanted to save camp but where the Hades am I going to find anything that can match the golden fleece. Sure my mother's study is chalk full of books on Greek legends and artifacts but I need locations here in the U.S.A. not Greece. "Wait! Maybe that's just what I need" I rushed into my mom study and started researching based on the stories my mother used to tell me as a kid. I dug out mom's book on Greek artifacts and started flipping through the pages.
There it was in the P section, it wasn't much more than a footnote but it had all the information I need 'Prometheus was chained to the peak Kazbek Mountain, where his liver is eaten daily by an eagle, only to be regenerated by night, due to his chains which bound his very essence. The eagle is a symbol of Zeus himself.'
'This is it' I thought with glee. I took a few of my mother's maps and began to mark them to help with my calculations. Before I knew it my work was done, I looked at the clock on my mother's desk 'It's 1:00 in the morning!' I thought 'how is mom not home yet'. I debated on going to bed and leaving in the morning but I doubt mom would let me. Instead I gathered my stuff and left a note on the table for her 'I'm so dead when I get back' I thought.
(AN: Sorry this took so long I've been out with the flu. Also yes this is a fluff chapter but I need it to build stuff up, you'll be seeing a lot more of these later on.)
